| A Pile of News: March 2022 |
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A briefing on news and information from the pile driving contractors, associated manufacturers, construction suppliers and affiliated engineers who comprise the PDCA.
by Matt Bisbee, PDCA
Originally sent March 1, 2022 |
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| From the Association & Chapters |
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Who was SPOTTED? Thanks to attendees, sponsors, exhibitors, presenters and all others who helped make the 23rd PDCA Annual Conference in Phoenix a success. There is plenty of event coverage available on the PDCA blog, found at the bottom of piledrivers.org. To make it easier for you, use the key below to visit the photo collections available from various conference activities:
- Board of directors meeting and past president's dinner [PHOTOS]
- Golf tournament [PHOTOS]
- Arriving in Phoenix, PDCA committee meetings and opening reception [PHOTOS]
- Scenes from the exhibit hall [PHOTOS]
- Project of the Year Awards presentation [PHOTOS]
- Educational and professional development sessions [PHOTOS]
- Day 2 reception in exhibit hall [PHOTOS]
- Sessions on the final day, PDCA awards [PHOTOS]
- Bonus PHOTOS (because everyone was having fun and the official photographer captured it!)
Congratulations! 2021 PDCA award winners who were recognized at the Annual Conference:
- Dale Biggers posthumously honored with John T. Parker Industry Ambassador Award
- Mohamad Hussein named Dr. Frank Rausche Professional Engineers Service awardee
- Dr. Richard Hartman recognized with Presidential Award for Distinguished Service
- Garland Likins named Lifetime Achievement Award winner
- Diane Fischer wins the Committee Chair of the Year
- Rich Anderson is Associate Member of the Year awardee
Hot off the presses PileDriver magazine, Issue #1 2022; read the digital edition.
Open for entries The PDCA 2022 Project of the Year Awards program is now taking entries for land, marine, earth retention and engineering/associate projects completed in 2021; submit by May 6.
DYK PDCA membership lets you list up to five company reps as PDCA members, regardless of their location? We removed the additional charge for multi-office listings. A per-person cost after your initial five applies for contractors, associates and engineers. Not a member? Join PDCA.
Upcoming association events:
- March 7-9: DFDTA-Orlando is a collaboration between PDCA and Pile Dynamics, Inc. The three-day program includes a seminar and a dynamic testing proficiency test.
- April 4-7: PDCA Contractors Foundation Institute: The Driven Pile Academy is a NEW and innovative program including both in-classroom and outdoor interactive experiences. Industry leading equipment professionals are retained to teach participants real-world applications.
Chapter events:
A visionary Harry Robbins (retired PDCA member) is widely credited for launching the South Carolina Chapter in 2003. During its 75th consecutive dinner meeting, he was presented a special award.
Relevant news and opinions:
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Rich Anderson with Equipment Corporation of America, you are this month's winner!
Send an email to marian@piledrivers.org before the end of March to claim your prize! |
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Transitions:
- Scott Slaughter, P.E. brings APC Construction 31 years of deep foundations experience.
- Darren Day named VP foundations at Patriot Construction & Industrial in Louisiana.
- Josh Hochradel promoted to branch development manager at Company Wrench in Carrol, OH.
- Kayla Munn joins Engineered Rigging as product specialist in Russellville, AR.
- Amy Dowdy is new to Flores Automation & Machine Control in inside sales.
- Matthew Eastman is the newest rep at Junttan USA; he's based in the Delaware office.
- Madeline Murray joins ECS Limited in Atlanta as business development specialist.
- Shana Opdyke-Carroll, P.E., LEED AP BDC elevates to president at D.W. Kozera, Inc. in Baltimore.
- Michael Flynn, P.E. onboards to the Boston office at GeoEngineers.
- Mitul Sisodiya, Ph.D., Jeremy Weremeichik, Megan Elwell, Wesley Swanson, Angela Kop, EIT, Isabel Gleckner and Daniel Watt, all new team members at GZA GeoEnvironmental.
- Jesse Richens, P.E. promoted to senior associate at Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers in NYC.
- Lionel Francois is new to the team at Southern Earth Sciences in Baton Rouge; meantime, officemate Patty Williams reaches 21 years, while Russell Nipper in Mobile, AL makes 38 years!
- Michael Dear appointed new CFO at Orlando-based Universal Engineering Sciences.
- Matthew Glisson departs Braun Intertec Corp. to lead technical activities at DFI.
- Timothy Cullen joins the team at PCI to lead technical activities on PC/PS concrete.
Recognitions:
- Barry Howton of Consolidated Pipe & Supply is nominated for 2021 Birmingham Business Journal CFO Awards [subscriber content]
- Daniel Wong, CEO at Tolunay-Wong Engineers, earned distinction as Houston's 2022 Engineer of the Year, for TSPE Engineer's Week in February. The Houston Chronicle interviewed him.
- John Olson, P.E. reaches 25 years at PND Engineers. Also, Mark Sams, P.E. is Outstanding Engineer of the Year per Juneau, AK ASCE; the firm won a project of the year award at the same event.
- R.J. Gonzalez III of Southern Earth Sciences named AGC Mobile associate president.
- Jonathan Craig, EI returns to the S&ME, Inc. Knoxville office after a National Guard deployment to support the Tennessee COVID response.
- Michael Bay, Alicia Homeszyn, Zachary James and Kyle Wilson at Michigan offices of SME recently earn Professional Engineer (PE) licensure.
- Karla Gabay, business manager at Universal Engineering Sciences, is nominated for a leadership award from the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County, FL.
- Leo Titus, Jr., P.E. of ECS, Ltd. ascends to helm at GBA. Others on '22'23 leadership team include Matt Moler of S&ME, Victor Donald of Terracon and Steve Wendland of GeoEngineers.
Is it Father's Day?
- Emmett and Kelsey Waggenspack assume new names dad and mom! Baby Pierce Warren was born Feb. 20 at 9 lbs, 3 oz, 22.25 inches long. Emmett, a past PDCA board member from Coastal Contractors, says mom and son are home and healthy in Baton Rouge.
- Joshua Moore, son of Palmetto Pile Driving GM Jason Moore, repeats as qualifier in the S.C. state wrestling tourney; he finished the season as Region 7A champ in the 152 lbs. class.
- Landon Blanco (12), son of Sealevel Construction supt. Tory Blanco, repped dad's employer in the Louisiana Motocross State Championship and placed fourth on his Sealevel-adorned dirtbike.
In memoriam:
- Longtime Nucor partner Raymond B. Johnson III, owner of Raymond Piling Products supplying New England and New York, has passed. PDCA extends condolences to friends and family.
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Acquisitions & expansions:
Governmental relations:
Recognitions:
Giving back:
- R. Kremer & Son Marine Contractors will sponsor the Manasquan River Marlin & Tuna Club's Bluefin Open in June; it supports sport fishing and waterway conservation in New Jersey.
Anniversary:
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Constructor magazine interviews project manager T.J. Colombatto of Massman Construction Company about the most recent award the new structure spanning the Mississippi River between Illinois and St. Louis has received The 2021 Build America Grand Award.
The Florida Times-Union reports that a $49 million contract has been executed for Balfour Beatty to begin the first phase of a plan that, by 2023, would bring driverless, electric people movers to a portion of Downtown Jacksonville, FL. [Paywall]
Spectrum News 1 serving Columbus, OH and vicinity, profiles Company Wrench owner Brad Hutchinson. The inspirational story focuses on Brad's generosity as an employer and a Fairfield County, OH resident. He lives by the words, "Success is never owned, it's rented; and the rent is due every day."
The Tribune Chronicle of Northeastern Ohio publishes an interview with Barry Zekelman, CEO of the Atlas Tube parent company. He compares his business philosophy to that of farmers who rotate crops, stating that, "To bleed it dry by not sacrificing some short-term profits is irresponsible."
RBC Economics provides an analysis of the Canadian economy transitioning to Net Zero. As part of its series called Green Collar Jobs, the Royal Bank of Canada publication quotes Colin Osborne, president and CEO of the Samuel Roll Form Group parent company. |
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"The most magical moment of your career" is how one former Olympian describes her participation in the games. In the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, aspiring civil engineer Hailey Swirbul experienced magical moments in February when she competed in three cross-country skiing events for the USA. Congrats to the University of Alaska student and PND Engineers, Inc. intern for representing excellence in a chosen discipline; just wait till she joins the ranks of American PEs!
A bad day fishing is better that a good day working Logan Parks is an aspiring pro fisherman pursuing the Bassmaster and MLF tours next year. Meantime, the recent Auburn grad has Morris-Shea Bridge Company sponsorship as he hustles on the amateur circuit. He's already won Tundra and a Nitro!
Can they trick an F-150 too? Nice job to the shop on this PM23LC pile driving rig, now on a four-week, trans-Atlantic barge ride from the Finland factory to its new Quebec home. PRECO-MSE awaits its new Junttan rig adorned in bright orange with slate trim; it sure brightens a snowy landscape!
There was an Outlaw in attendance when Louisiana Attorney General Landry spoke to the Baton Rouge Industrial Group. We earmarked this story for a Governmental Relations entry until we saw irony that Jerry Outlaw (note the last name) of Ardaman & Associates was among attendees for the A.G.'s briefing. We wonder if the state's top law enforcement officer raised an eyebrow upon seeing his name tag?
Thank you for reading the March edition of "A Pile of News." Check back in April when we will reveal all the new PDCA members who have joined the effort to advance the driven pile. If you or your colleague(s) are interested in receiving this publication from PDCA on the first working day of each month, please visit piledrivers.org and provide your email address in the prompt at the bottom of the home page. |
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